Window sash restraining means



Feb. 16, J. H. SHEARD WINDOW SASH RESTRAINING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 26, 1930 INVENTOR. H 371mm WITNESSES Jase 0J2 7 BY W ORNEYS.

v Feb. 16, 1932. J, SHEARD 1,845,448

WINDOW SASH RESTRAINING MEANS Filed June-26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ZYZ. M

M FIG: E 1 5 56 1 151* I) I l HG INVENTOR: JosqofiJfSfiearaZ,

TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 16, 1932 MEN 1 orrics JOSEPH H. SHEARD', OF PHILAD'ELBHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB, T0 DAVID LUPTONS SONS COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A ,CORPOEATION OF PENNSYLVANIA Application filed June 26,

This invention relates to restraining means for holding the sashes of windows in open position against the influence of gravity.

In connection with means of the kind referred to I aim to afford provisions whereby, in the event of a fire, the action of the parts which are ordinarily relied upon to induce'the restraining effect upon sash movement is nullified with attendant release of the sashes to the action of gravity for the purposes of automatic closure.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be manifest from the detailed description following when considered in connection with the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I shows a metallic window. structure embodying the sash restraining means of my invention. 1

Fig. II is a vertical sectional view of the window structure taken as indicated by the arrows IIII in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a fragmentary elevation of the upper part of the window, drawn to a larger scale with a portion thereof broken out and other portions in section to better illustrate the details of the sash restraining means.

Fig. IV is a plan sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows IVIV inFig. III.

Fig. V is a detail sectional view taken as inrliicated by the arrows VV in Figs. I and II Fig. VI is a view corresponding to Fig. III showing a modified form of my invention; and,

Fig. VII is a plan sectional view taken'as indicated by the arrows VIIVII in Fig. VI.

The window chosen for convenience in illustrating the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. IV is of metallic construction throughout, its frame being generally designated by the numeral 10, and its sash by the numeral 11. Thertop and bottom horizontals 12, 13 and the side verticals 14, 15 of the frame 10 are of the conventional channel cross-section shown in Figs. II and V. The top rail 16, bottom rail 17 and the side rails 18 and 19 of thesash 11 are likewise of channel cross-section; and when the sash 11 is in closed position, the said rails WINDOW SLASH RESTRAINING MEANS 1930. Serial no. 463,867.

respectively meet the top and bottom horizontals 12, 13 and the side verticals 14, 15 of the frame 10 with formation of a double weather seal all around, as shown in Figs. II and IV, in accordance with more or less standardized practice in the art. The sash 11 is in the present instance mounted so that it may be angularly projected as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. II. Thev parts whereby such projection of the sash 11 is made possible include a pair. of shoes 20, 21 carried by said sash at its upper corners, such shoes fitting the inner channels of the side verticals 14, 15 of the frame 10 and bearing, frictionally against said side verticals so as to hold the sash 11 in open position against the influence of gravity in a manner which will presently become apparent. As shown in Figs. III and IV the shoes 20, 21 have inwardly projecting trunnions22, 23 that rotatably engage in tubular bosses 24, 25 which may be integral with the sash 11, or separately'formed and secured to the top rail 16 of said sash by welding. A pair of links 26, 27 (Figs. I and II) extending between pivot studs 28, 29 and 30, 31 respectively on the window frame 10 and on the sash 11, predetermine' swinging movement of said sash about its pivot connection with the friction shoes 20, 21 as the latter slide up and down in the guide channels of the frame side verticals 14, 15 incident to opening and closing of the sash 11. The shoes 20, 21 are influenced by helical tension springs 32, 33 (Figs. III and IV) which are accommodated within the bosses 24, 25 and between which is interposed a thrust or buttress rod 34. This buttress rod 34 is slidably engaged in bearing lugs 35, 36 secured by screws 37, 38 within the channel of the upper rail 16 of the sash 11, as clearly shown .in Figs. III and IV. For the purposes of extensibility of the buttress rod 34, its opposite extremities are threaded as at 39, 40 to take adjustable thimble-like tips or end pieces 41, 42 against which the springs 32, 33 react, said end pieces being provided with holes 43 for application of a suitable adjusting implement. By virtue of the adjustment facilities just described, the pressure of the'springs 32, 33 may be varied initially to increase or decrease the frictional pressure of the shoes 20, 21 against the side verticals 14, 15 of the window frame until the desired resistivity to sash movement is had, as well as subsequently to take up wear as may be required from time to time.

In adapting my invention to a standard Window constructed in accordance with the foregoing provisions are made as follows: From Figs. III and IV it will be noted that the but-tress rod 34 is composed of two sections 44, which are brought into overlapping relation at 46, and which are rigidly connected by two screw bolts 47 made from a soft fusible metal. A ball 48 occupying a hollow 49 jointly formed by complemental depressions in the meeting faces of the overlapping portions of the buttress rod sections 44, 45 ordinarily takes the endwise strain of said rod sections and thereby precludes shearing of the fusible screw bolts 47.

\Vith this novel arrangement it is evident that melting of the fusible screw bolts 47 in the event of a fire, will be attended by disconnection of the buttress rod sections 44, 45 and freeing of the ball 48. As a consequence, the springs 32, 38 will immediately relax, and the pressure be taken from the friction shoes 20, 21 with release of the window sash 11 for automatic closure by gravity. In order to make closure under these conditions absolutely sure, a weighting bar 50 is preferably attached to the bottom rail 17 of the window sash 11, as shown in Fig. II.

In the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs. VI and VII, the friction shoes 20a and 21a are round and pierced axially for engagement by studs 51, 52 projecting from the ends of spring fingers 53, 54 which are secured by rivets 55, 56 to the side bars 180, 19a of the sash 11a. The spring fingers 53, 54 for the shoes 20a, 21a arepressed outward- 1y by tips or end pieces 41a, 42a adjustable on the screw threaded ends 39a, 40a of the component sections 44a, 45a of a two-part thrust bar 34a which is slidably engaged in lugs 35a, 36a secured to the top rail 16a of the sash 11a. The sections 44a, 45a of the thrust bar 34a do not overlap as was the case with the sections 44, 45 of the buttress rod 34 of the first embodiment, their inner ends being aligned and separated by an interval, as shown in Fig. VII. lVithin such interval, the ends of the rod sections 44a, 4500 are engaged by a keeper comprising two components 56, 57 which are inter-pivoted at 58 and'respectively provided with lever arms 59, 60 that reach outwardly through an opening 61 in the top rail 16a of the sash 11 for connection by a link 62 of fusible metal. Here as in the first described embodiment, the sash restraining means is rendered inoperative. immediately upon melting of the fusible elementi. e. the link 62so that the sash 11a may close of its own accord under the influence of gravity in case of a fire.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Sash restraining means for windows including opposed friction means to normally hold the sash in open position against the influence of gravity; multipartite means coordinating and normally exerting pressure upon the friction means; and a thermallysensitive element in the multipartite means to nullify the effect of said latter means in the event of a fire with release of the sash for automatic closure by gravity.

2. Sash restraining means for windows including opposed shoes carried by the sash to frictionally engage the side verticals of the window frame, thereby to normally hold the sash in open position against the infinence of gravity; multipartite means co-active with and normally exerting pressure upon the shoes; and thermally-sensitive elements in the multipartite means fusible to nullify the effect of the pressure means in the event of a fire with release of the sash for automatic closure by gravity.

8. Sash restraining means for windows including shoes carried by the sash to frictionally engage the side verticals of the Window frame thereby to normally hold the sash in open position against the influence of gravity a multi-partite thrust member interposed between the friction shoes; and fusible means rigidly connecting the parts of the thrust member with capacity to permit their separation for automatic closure of the window I by gravity in the event of a fire.

4. Sash restraining means for windows including shoes carried by the sash to frictionally engage the side verticals of the window frame thereby to normally hold the sash in open position against the influence of gravity; a thrust member interposed between the friction shoes, said thrust member embodying two rod sections with adjustable end pieces to bear directly against the friction shoes; and fusible means rigidly connecting the rod sections of the thrust member with capacity to permit their separation for automatic closure of the sash by gravity in the event of a fire.

5. Sash restraining means for windows including shoes carried by the sash to frictionally engage the side verticals of the window frame thereby to normally hold the sash in open position against the influence of gravity; a two-part thrust rod interposed between the friction shoes; and fusible screws rigidly connecting overlapping portions of the thrust rod sections with capacity to permit separation of said rod sections for automatic closure of the sash by gravity in the event of a fire.

6. Sash restraining means for windows includlng shoes carried by the sash to frictlonally engage the side verticals of the window frame thereby to normally hold the sash in open position against the influence of gravity; fusible screws rigidly connecting overlapping portions of the rod sections with capacity to permit separation of said rod sec-' tions for automatic closure of the sash by gravity in the event of a fire; and a ball occupying a hollow jointly provided by the meeting faces of the overlap to normally take the strain of the thrust rod and prevent shearing of the fusible screws.

7 Sash restraining means for windows including shoes carried by the sash to frictionally engage the side verticals of the window frame thereby to normally hold the sash in open position against the influence of gravity; individual compression springs operative upon the frictionshoes; and an interposed two-part thrust rod, said rod being extensible to vary the compression of the springs; and fusible means rigidly connecting the two thrust rod sections with capacity to permit their separation for automatic closure of the window sash by gravity in the event of a fire.

8. Sash restraining means for windows including shoes carried by the sash to frictionally engage the side verticals of the window frame thereby tonormally held the sash in open position against the influence of gravity; an interposed two-part thrust rod with end pieces adjustable to vary the compression of the springs; and fusible means rigidly connecting the thrust rod sections with capacity to permit their separation for automatic closure of the window sash by gravity in the event of a fire.

9. Sash restraining means for windows including shoes carried by the sash to frictionally engage the side verticals of the Window frame thereby to normally hold the sash in open position against the influence of gravity; a two-part thrust rod interposed between the shoes; a keeper comprising apair of interpivoted members to engage the contiguous ends of the thrust rod sections; and a fusible link connecting lever arms on the component members of the keeper with capacity to release them for automatic closure of the window sash by gravity in the event of a fire.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 23rd day of June, 1930.

JOSEPH H. SHEARD. 

